Brignac, Mayberry lead Phillies to sweep of Padres

Philadelphia Phillies' John Mayberry Jr., right, reacts after being tagged out at home plate by San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal on a fielders choice by Wil Nieves during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 12, 2014, in Philadelphia. Philadelphia won 7-3. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pinch-hitter Reid Brignac hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the sixth inning, John Mayberry Jr. hit a three-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 7-3 to complete a three-game sweep Thursday in a game played in steady rain.

Brignac, who hit a three-run homer in the ninth to send the Phillies to a 3-0 victory a night earlier, lined a drive off Dale Thayer to the gap in left-center to give the Phillies a 4-2 lead.

Mayberry connected an inning later off Alex Torres. Making a spot start for Ryan Howard, Mayberry also doubled twice.

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Kyle Kendrick (2-6) allowed one earned and seven hits, striking out five in six innings. He earned his second win in 20 starts, dating to last year.

The Phillies have their first three game-winning streak since May 17-20 and recorded just their second series sweep this season. Ken Giles made his major league debut for the Phillies with two outs in the ninth. He threw a 100 mph fastball on his first pitch before Yasmani Grandal hit an opposite-field homer on a 3-1 pitch.

Mayberry is batting .324 (12 for 37) with five doubles, three homers and 12 RBIs against lefties. Howard is hitting just .206 (12 for 63) with one double, four homers, 15 RBIs and 30 strikeouts vs. lefties.

Manager Ryne Sandberg may have to consider a platoon at first, even though Howard is making $25 million per season through 2016 with a $23 million team option for 2017.

Mayberry led off Philadelphia’s sixth with his second double. Domonic Brown lined a single to right on an 0-2 pitch, chasing Stults.

Thayer came in to face Will Nieves, who hit a bouncer to third baseman Chase Headley. His high throw to the plate was in time to get Mayberry. Sandberg challenged the call, but a video review confirmed catcher Grandal tagged Mayberry before his foot touched the plate.

Thayer then struck out pinch-hitter Howard. But Brignac followed with a shot to the wall to give the Phillies a two-run lead.

Mayberry made it 7-2 with his fifth homer of the season in the seventh.

Padres manager Bud Black won a replay challenge in the third inning when a video review showed Ben Revere was out at first base following a drag bunt. Jimmy Rollins hit an RBI single in Philadelphia’s first to move within two hits of breaking Mike Schmidt’s franchise record of 2,234.

The Padres jumped on Kendrick for two runs in the first. Will Venable led off with a single and Everth Cabrera followed with a single, snapping an 0-for-23 slump. After Seth Smith’s groundout, Headley hit an RBI double.

Smith scored when right fielder Marlon Byrd bobbled the ball for an error and Headley went to third. Kendrick has a 9.00 ERA in the first inning and batters are hitting .393 against him.

NOTES: Howard wasn’t in the starting lineup vs. Stults, even though he’s 2 for 2 with two homers off him. ... Kendrick became the first Phillies pitcher to draw a walk. ... The Padres lost for only the 12th time when having a lead at any point in a game. ... The Phillies open a three-game series against the Cubs on Friday night. Roberto Hernandez (2-4, 4.35) faces Chicago’s Jake Arrieta (1-1, 2.50). ... The Padres open a three-game set at the Mets. Andrew Cashner (2-5, 2.13) goes against New York’s Bartolo Colon (5-5, 4.31).